Political structure

Unicameral Vouli (parliament) of 300 members, which is directly elected by a form of proportional representation for a four-year term, although early dissolution is possible

Electoral system

Universal direct suffrage over the age of 18

National elections

September 20th 2015. The next election must be held by September 2019

Head of state

President, without executive powers, elected by parliament for a five-year term. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, a former minister of the interior from the centre-right New Democracy (ND), was elected on February 18th 2015

National government

Council of Ministers responsible to the legislature, headed by a prime minister appointed by the president on the basis of ability to gain support in parliament. A coalition government, led by the prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, of Syriza Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza), was sworn in on September 23rd 2015. Syriza rules in coalition with the Independent Greeks (AE)

Main political parties

New Democracy (ND); Syriza Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza); Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok); Independent Greeks (AE); Golden Dawn (XA); Democratic Left (DIMAR) and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE); To Potami (The River); Movement of Democratic Socialists (To Kinima); Popular Unity; Union of Centrists